What's Up, Doc? (Part I)

Posted on Mon Aug 25th, 2025 @ 8:01am by Lieutenant Rynna Csira & Lieutenant Commander Rafael Montoya

1,545 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: A Day In The Life
Location: Sickbay / Prancing Pony

Rynna had barely settled on the Majestic when they were sent to earth--and the entire crew was transferred to the Orcrist. Along with the new ship, there were new department heads. One of them was a new doctor. So, Ryssa made time to head to sickbay to say hello. She wasn't sure when she had her last physical, but she could say hello now and figure out the rest later.

She walked into sickbay and looked around for the doctor.

Raf was, surprisingly, relaxing in his office reviewing the reports on the various scanners and other diagnostic equipment in sickbay. Everything was within the regs but he had noted a few that needed a little tweaking to meet his standards. Setting the padd aside, he picked up his coffee, leaning back in his chair.

Being used to the hustle, all go no quit pace of overseeing a starbase this was going to take some getting used to. One thing for sure was that he was going to have to cut back on the coffee or he'd be bouncing off the walls.

Turning his chair slightly he saw the woman looking about. Rising he moved to his doorway, "Looking for me?"

"I am." She smiled, recognizing the doctor from his profile. "I'm Rynna Csira, head of operations. If you've got a few minutes, I thought I'd stop by and say hello." She hadn't met many department heads, but now that everything was back to normal--more or less--she decided she should.

He looked around at the whole lot of nothing taking place in sickbay. "Well, I don't know...it's just so busy."

Rynn grinned. "Well, you never know. You could be contemplating the solution to a new medical procedure and don't want someone interrupting your thought process at a crucial moment. Or I'm keeping you from a well-deserved break."

Rocking is head slightly from side to side. "Well, you're in luck, no major projects at the moment. As to a break, it a tad early but how about we go get lunch?"

It only took her a moment to decide. "Sure. I'd like that." It was often more relaxing to chat over food, and she would be going to lunch before long.

He gestured for her to go first and as they left sickbay he asked. "So where would you like to go? The lounge...somewhere on the station...?"

"Honestly? I'm not sure. We could find something on the space dock. I haven't looked around much." She'd spent more time looking over the new specs and checking out the ship than finding places to eat.

"Well, that makes two of us. When I arrived, I went to see family until I had to report, so all I've seen of the station was the transfer shuttle bay. How about we just go grab a bit in the lounge and we can save exploring the station when we have more time?"

She nodded. "I hadn't considered time. Yes. Let's hit The Prancing Pony and see what the special is." Because her office was on the same deck she would likely get a lot of her meals there once the ship left earth.

Shortening his stride so he didn't shoot ahead of her. "They named the lounge the Prancing Pony?"

Rynn nodded. She appreciated that he slowed down for her. "As the ship is named the Orcrist, the lounge and shuttles have names based on Tolkien's work." She shrugged. "I've been looking over the ship specs and noticed the shuttles. It's also on the same deck as my office." She flashed him a grin. "And I've read the books, so I noticed."

He chuckled, "I'm almost afraid to ask what they named the shuttles." He was going to have to wander around the ship. A devilish grin formed at the possible pranks that could be pulled.

"Why should I be worried about that grin?" Although, by her smile he could tell she wasn't.

"Oh, I was just imagining someone asking about second breakfast in a briefing or banner showing up wrapped around the warp core with elvish script."

"Well, I'm not sure you could get one around the warp core, but some signage in both Standard and Elvish..." She wondered if she could do something with her name on her the door to her quarters. "That could be interesting."

"Oh...never underestimate the abilities of a determined prankster, Lieutenant. There was a large organizational emblem for the Marine Corps Installations Command. Their organizational acronym would regularly get mispronounced (MCICOM mispronounce - MickeyCOm) and the emblem ended up with a huge set of mouse ears atop the emblem outside the main office. Who would do such a thing...I don't know."

She grinned mischievously. "You weren't anywhere near there, were you?" If Cade and the doctor ever got together, the ship would definitely be in trouble. Still, she found she liked him and his sense of humor.

"Oh, not at all..."

The Prancing Pony didn't have many people as they were docked and many of the crew were taking advantage of the opportunity. "Looks like we have our choice of tables."

Looking about the lounge. "No sense in have the staff walk completely across the place when they don't have to...how about there." Pointing to a table towards the middle.

"Yes. That works." She walked over to the table with him and sat down.

Before taking his seat, he made eye contact with one of the staff and they started over. Gesturing for him to take the ladies order first.

She smiled her thanks to Raf, then turned to give her order. "I'll have a BLT with French fries and...blackberry lemonade." Then she turned her attention back to Raf.

"Let's see what they have programmed... I'll have shredded beef enchiladas with rice, chorizo beans and a Sangria...synthohol version of course."

"That sounds good, too." She said. "I'll have to order that next time." Rynn would have lots of time to try new things here as she would likely eat here a lot. "What do you generally do when you're not working?"

"Sounds good, but we'll have to see. I might have some reprogramming to do. Growing up in Spain one can get picky...If my grandmother was alive she would have been aboard and reprogramming the replicator the second she heard I was assigned here. As to free time, it'll be nice to have some free time. As CMO of a starbase...," letting out a huff, "...what free time. But I do practice a few martial arts and have to keep myself in shape. Other than that, I practically grew up horseback riding, I also like to go climbing, my brother and I have a little competition when it comes to that...it'll be nice to be able to catch up to him. I hiking, camping, swimming, scuba diving, music. How about yourself?"

"I like music. I sing and play the piano. I also like martial arts, but I'm more into kickboxing. I like ropes courses and have done some climbing." Thinking back over what he said, she added, "I haven't done as much camping as I would like, but I like canoeing."

"Well, those two do go hand in hand...are you more of a rough it camper or still need some 'conveniences'?"

"I don't mind roughing it. As long as I have a sleeping bag or bedroll, so I can sleep, I'm good." She raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"

"My father used to say, 'If you're not living off the land you're not really camping'. The only thing other than camping gear either of us had with us was a guitar."

She nodded. Then sat back as their food was delivered. She thanked the waiter, then turned back to Raf. "I used to collect herbs, nuts, and berries with my brother when I was growing up. I think it's important to know how to live off the land when you have to."

"Couldn't agree more." He took a bite from the plate, melted cheese stretching for a bit. Shaking his head as he chewed, head had work to do. Picking up his glass he washed it down.

Rynna took the opportunity to separate the two halves of her sandwich and take a bite. For a couple of minutes, they both focused on their food, but it was a companionable silence. When she finished her sandwich, she took another drink of her lemonade and pointed at Raf with a French fry. "Since you've got some free time, is there anything you want me to work on in sickbay?"

Finishing off a bite of beans. "I was thinking there might be a request or two but when I was enroute I looked over the layout and was pretty happy with what I saw. I mean I know I won't have the resource I did on DS4, I can't expect that I would. Lieutenant Marlow, Lily, had mentioned her interest in alternative medicine and I was looking at where we could set up an acupressure/puncture table for her but there is the holo-therapy room and she can program whatever is needed."

(To be continued...)

Lt. Commander Rafael Montoya
Chief Medical Officer

Lieutenant Rynna Csira
Chief Operations Officer

 

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